Cartier

A Retrospective for the Future

Like all pieces of the fashion pie, trends in jewellery are very much set by the powerful people who choose to wear them. In jewellery, when it comes to brand cache, one name stands above them all – Cartier.

Today when Michelle Obama salutes the crowd it is the glimmer of a Cartier watch that completes her image and this is precisely how it’s always been for Cartier. From its origins in Paris in 1847, Cartier has always been linked to Royalty and Celebrity – not only complimenting re ned tastes, but often setting the style for the most influential clientele of the times.

King Edward vii once glowingly referred to Cartier as the “Jeweler to Kings and the King of Jewelers”.

Cartier, from the very start, stood on its own as it simplified designs in a time of very ornate fashions. This shift to simplicity quickly became the definitive style of jewellery to Parisian society. In the beginning, Cartier was quick to respond to changes in fashion – like when long sleeves and gloves were no longer in mode for Parisians, they strategically brought out decorative wristwatches to fill in the gap. This responsive- ness to fashion shifts became increasingly proactive in 1898 when the Cartier family married into the Worth family – a prominent fashion house at the time. This union gave Cartier access and inside knowledge of society and their luxury needs opening the door to their expansion from Paris, to London and finally to New York.

To constantly stay ahead of the curve, the Cartier family made regular trips all around the world to learn about the latest in lavish design and style. Not only form, but also function was critical to Cartier remaining an industry icon throughout the years. The Cartier family has always insisted on using the top watch manufactures the world has to o er and this insistence has allowed them to bring ingenuity to their already cutting edge designs.

Simply put, Cartier was and is style – and they have the history to prove it! Cartier remains a powerful force in the industry today as the brand is very well controlled and distributed to regulate its position and future in the market. Since the 1990s Cartier has re ned itself in the technical realm, opening a timepiece division in La Chaux de Fonds and workshops in Geneva. Cartier has also developed (CPCP) Collection Privee Cartier Paris, this division ac- counts for more and more of the global sales. Cartier is also now one of the top producers of the complicated Tourbillion pieces.

Cartier has many iconic features such as guilloche dials, Romans numerals, and sword hands and many of these features are once again taking the world by storm – the Ballon Bleu (unisex) Santos and of course, the always classic Tank. It should come as no surprise when A-Listers such as Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, Usher and Johnny Depp are seen sporting these timeless pieces.

Visit Stefanie at Berani Jewellery Design to make Cartier a part of your collection. Located at Bayview Village.